Montane expand their athlete roster with two young internationally rated ice climbers; Emma Powell (UK) and Liam Foster (USA).
Emma is the first and only British person to podium at an Ice World Championship, placing third in 2016 and 2014. Despite this incredible achievement she is only 18 years old, having started climbing as a way of burning off excess energy as a child. Starting at age seven she quickly transitioned through climbing disciplines before finding ice climbing, becoming a member of the GB Ice Climbing Team (sponsored by Montane) in 2011.
Emma Powell said: “I am excited by the opportunity to work with Montane. I am keen to use their products in my niche field of climbing and to represent the brand.”
Liam is already an accomplished ice, mixed, and drytooling athlete at the age of 19. He is the youngest American to climb some of the hardest grades in drytooling (D12, D13, & D14), placed fourth in difficulty at the 2019 Youth World Ice Climbing Championships, was second in difficulty and speed at the 2018 North American Championships, and has won the Hari Berger Speed Competition at the Ouray Ice Festival two years running. He plans on competing in as many Ice Climbing World Cups next year as he can while studying Physics at CU Boulder.
He is working to maintain Tomorrow’s World (a cave in the Dolomites where Tom Ballard put up his most iconic routes) for future climbers so it can continue to inspire others the same way it inspires him.
Liam Foster said: “Montane is the ideal gear for the harshest environments in the world, and their kit allows me to push my limits. I am honoured to be supported by them and look forward to seeing what is possible.”
